PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. SPEAKERS. EUNOMUS an old Nobleman, reduced and living in solitude. PHILARET-his son, supposed to be dead. MYRTILLA-his daughter-in-law, Philaret's wife. THREE SHEPHERDS-reduced to that condition. LIBERTY. FOUR GENII OF THE KINGDOMS. PHANIEL and MABIEL-attendant Spirits. SPRING, PEACE, and POETRY-Goddesses. THE SABLE Genius. MUTES. THE ENCHANTER. PAINTING, MUSIC, and DANCING-Goddesses. CERES. AMBRIEL-a Spirit. Visions and Pageants, &c. THE DESCENT OF LIBERTY. THE PROLOGUE. HE scene of the Prologue is nothing but clouds and sky, the former lying in heaps of silvery snow for a ground, and the latter, which is of a deep blue, presenting an occasional planet in motion. A sudden light strikes over the place, and Liberty, with a cheerful step, issues out of it. She is in the bloom of youth, buskined up with an active dress like Diana, her large and airy curls enwreathed with laurel, and a light staff with a cap on it across her shoulder. As she advances she makes a stop, and casts her eyes downwards, as if looking into the distance afar off. LIBERTY. This is the point at which the rolling world Opens upon me. There it is, broad gleaming! O what a sight of loveliness art thou, Earth, my dear care; and what would some of those, Who spoil thee, think if they could see thine orb As I do now, smoothing along the air With full-turn'd face divine, and all the while Now the wide waters heavingly come round, Opaque and restless, with a lingering sweep; Fair islands now, and there, my favourite soil, Among them, upon which I first set foot Whene'er I visit earth; and now at last, The suffering land, which I must free to day. With what a clinging darkness is it cover'd! The Enchanter, foiled in his attempt to force His art beyond it's limits, and to work His fiery magic in the northern snows, Where the rude people, having Nature's help, To dash him from his height. This is the hour Their clouds, and following up his wasted strength, At which the world shall startle. Then will I Ye tricksome cherubs, ever at your play, 6 PROLOGUE TO THE DESCENT OF LIBERTY. With smile-expanded cheeks and hovering limbs,— And with a silver cloud wait on me down. A set of cherubs rise from the back-ground, and Liberty seating herself on one of the clouds, they playfully bear her up with it, the whole going off at the side-scene with a descending motion. |